The 2026 Professional Dairy Producers (PDP) Business Conference attracted dairy producers from 25 states and Canada to Madison, Wisconsin, March 4-5. With a theme of “Dairy’s Blueprint – Drafting Tomorrow’s Success,” the program featured refreshed perspectives and tools to equip attendees for success.

Nick Vande Weerd runs Pleasant Dutch Dairy in South Dakota and serves as vice chair for AgriBank. Progressive Dairy Editor Walt Cooley caught up with him after he spoke at the 2025 Precision Dairy Conference, and he had one message that stopped Cooley: You can't expand your way out of a cost problem.

How can farms rise above financial risks and a volatile market to eventually move toward growth? Three dairy producers opened up about their journeys and offered honest insight during a recent panel discussion.

By adapting to new market trends and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI)-driven efficiencies, dairy operations can increase profitability while reducing costs.

Overcrowding is a commonly used management practice in our industry to maximize output and remain competitive, driven by economic pressures and limited space. Current heifer and beef prices and overall farm efficiency provide the opportunity to ask an important question: Do you know your farm’s optimal stocking number?